Yun Shu chattered on incessantly.
Finally, she opened a hidden compartment and took out a box containing silver coins.
Pei Tingyue raised an eyebrow. “There’s only five qian of silver in total. Do you really need to count it over and over?”
“This servant would never do something so pathetic!” Yun Shu retorted. She opened the wooden box directly. “Consort, look.”
Pei Tingyue looked into the box and was momentarily stunned.
The box had originally contained only a few scattered pieces of broken silver, but now it was half full with silver ingots of ten taels each. A quick glance showed more than ten of them.
She asked in surprise, “Where did these come from?”
Yun Shu beamed with joy. “Her Majesty the Empress gave them to us. The young maid in our hall said that after we went to Chengming Hall last night, the Empress sent someone with two hundred taels of silver, saying it was to add to your joy.”
She hadn’t even thought about asking the Emperor for money yet, but Empress Cui had already sent some.
This was clearly because she knew Pei Tingyue was financially strained and was using this pretext to help her.
Pei Tingyue stared at the silver in the box, her feelings complex, and her impatience grew even stronger.
She was increasingly eager to figure out what kind of person this Empress Cui really was…
Pei Tingyue rubbed her temples. “Put it away. We’ll have many uses for silver in the future.”
“Yes.”
After resting on the couch for half an hour, feeling that her strength had mostly returned and her mind was completely clear, Pei Tingyue got up.
Seeing Yun Shu’s anxious expression, Pei Tingyue laughed. “With that look on your face, you’d think I was seriously injured.”
Yun Shu pouted. “This servant is worried about you, Consort!”
Pei Tingyue let her be. She tried walking around the hall a couple of times, stopping only when her back was slightly sweaty.
After resting well all afternoon and finishing dinner, Pei Tingyue took two plates of pastries and headed toward the main hall.
These pastries had been sent by the Emperor during dinner—three plates in total.
One plate of Mudan Crystal Rolls, one plate of Ruyi Milk Cake, and one plate of Osmanthus Cake.
Pei Tingyue had only eaten the Osmanthus Cake, finding it delicious, so she brought the remaining two plates with her.
Arriving at the entrance of the main hall, Yun Shu said to the maid guarding the door, “Regarding this morning’s matter, our Consort wishes to thank Guifei Niangniang in person. May we trouble you to announce us?”
The maid glanced at them but did not go into the main hall. Instead, she went to the eastern side hall.
Pei Tingyue waited at the entrance.
She calculated the likelihood of actually meeting the Guifei.
If her guess was correct—that the Guifei was feigning illness to avoid palace conflicts—then she would most likely be sent back to her own quarters.
She was prepared not to see the Guifei.
Before long, the maid returned and bowed respectfully. “Guifei Niangniang is in the eastern hall. Please proceed, Consort Pei.”
She was actually willing to see her.
Pei Tingyue raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised.
As soon as she reached the entrance of the hall, she smelled a rich aroma of meat, accompanied by a sizzling sound.
“…”
Was the Guifei having dinner?
It seemed she had come at a bad time.
Pei Tingyue stepped inside, discreetly observing the hall.
The eastern side hall had three bays, but the main room and the northern secondary room were completely empty, without any furnishings—not even beaded curtains or silk drapes. Under the glow of a few candles, she could vaguely make out something hanging on the far wall.
But Pei Tingyue only caught a fleeting glimpse and couldn’t see clearly what it was.
The southern secondary room, however, was brightly lit. A large couch was placed near the Lozenge Windows, with only one maid standing beside it—Bai Shuang, whom she had seen before.
Noble Consort Song was gathered around the brazier by the couch, sleeves rolled up… roasting meat.
The scene made Pei Tingyue hesitate for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and stepped forward to pay her respects: “This humble consort pays her respects to Guifei Nianniang.”
Noble Consort Song flipped the venison on the copper plate and pointed to the mahogany round stool opposite: “You’re here, sit.”
Pei Tingyue sat as instructed: “Thank you, Guifei Nianniang.”
Noble Consort Song brought a white porcelain plate and placed some roasted venison before her: “The Imperial Physician said you lack vitality and blood. This will help replenish them.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Guifei Nianniang, but this humble consort has already had her evening meal.”
Noble Consort Song paused her movements, puzzled: “So what?”
Pei Tingyue looked up.
The two stared at each other for a moment.
Noble Consort Song suddenly showed an expression of understanding, “You didn’t think this was the evening meal, did you?”
Pei Tingyue was confused: “Isn’t it?”
“Of course not!” Noble Consort Song said decisively, “This is… an after-meal snack!”
Pei Tingyue looked down at the full plate of fragrant roasted venison and fell into a long silence.
If this was an after-meal snack, then what had she been eating earlier?
Under Noble Consort Song’s earnest gaze, Pei Tingyue bravely picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. To her surprise, it tasted unexpectedly delicious.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, filling her mouth with fragrance.
“It’s delicious.”
Noble Consort Song glanced at her, a hint of pride showing between her brows, “When it comes to roasting meat, no one in this palace surpasses my skill.”
“…”
While others compare favor, she compares roasting skills.
Pei Tingyue was now absolutely certain that the Noble Consort was truly feigning illness and couldn’t be bothered to compete for favor.
Not wanting to offend her, and because the roasted venison was truly delicious, Pei Tingyue ate several pieces before carefully speaking, “I heard that when I fainted this morning, it was Guifei Nianniang who brought me back to the hall and summoned the Imperial Physician. I came tonight to thank Guifei Nianniang.”
Noble Consort Song recalled the frail figure in her arms and raised her spirited brows: “A small matter, not worth thanks. Rather, you should focus on replenishing yourself. You’re a bit too thin.”
As she spoke, she filled Pei Tingyue’s plate again.
Pei Tingyue looked at the mountain of venison before her, both amused and exasperated.
Was the Noble Consort trying to fatten her up like a pig?
Watching the Noble Consort enjoying her meal, Pei Tingyue’s thoughts stirred. Perhaps she could learn about the Empress through the Noble Consort.
After weighing her words, Pei Tingyue lowered her head and said: “These days, I have received much imperial favor, and others avoid me. Now in this palace, only Guifei Nianniang and the Empress are willing to speak with me.”
Noble Consort Song swallowed a piece of venison, her expression unchanged: “Since you know you’re disliked, stay quietly in your own palace. Don’t cause trouble or commit offenses.”
Pei Tingyue choked.
Disliked…
She truly hadn’t expected the Noble Consort to be so direct, stating it so bluntly.
It was quite hurtful.
Couldn’t she have been more tactful?!
Just as Pei Tingyue was considering how to respond, Noble Consort Song spoke again, this time in a lower voice,
“That’s how you’ll live longer.”
Pei Tingyue stiffened and suddenly looked up.
The Noble Consort saw her current situation clearly.
Though these words were somewhat harsh, they were teaching her how to preserve her life.
Her heart warmed, and she felt even more favorably disposed toward this Noble Consort.
“They’re hypocritical, and I don’t care for them either. Since Guifei Nianniang treats me well, I’ll listen to you!”
Song Guifei set down her silver chopsticks with a faint, ambiguous smile. “I treat you well? But as I recall, during our last two meetings, I’ve repeatedly called you irritating. How exactly did you come to the conclusion that I mean well, Consort Pei?”
Pei Tingyue met her gaze steadily, her eyes resolute. “Because I believe Guifei Nianniang harbors no ill intent. Since you won’t harm me, yet still take the trouble to say such things to me, it must be for my own good.”
Seeing her sincere expression, Song Guifei asked with interest, “Oh? You trust me that much?”
Pei Tingyue replied frankly, “Yes.”
“I’ve heard that Your Ladyship was born in the Fuyuan General’s estate in Bei Jiang and grew up following your father in the military camps since childhood. What you witnessed in your youth may have been unavoidable battles, painful partings in life and death, or perhaps unwavering loyalty to the sovereign and fearless determination to protect the people. Tempered in such an environment, one could only emerge as a phoenix soaring over the wilderness, with a heart embracing the world. The best proof of this is how Your Ladyship has kept to yourself since entering the palace. Therefore, I’ve never worried about you.”